Since 1983

Four Decades of the Round Rotherham

One of the oldest continuous ultra-distance events in northern England, the Rowbotham’s Round Rotherham 50 has circled the borough of Rotherham annually since 1983 — interrupted only by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Origins

The event was conceived by Ralph Rowbotham, club secretary of Rotherham Harriers & Athletic Club, who in 1983 scouted a continuous route around the perimeter of the Rotherham metropolitan borough. Ralph’s description of the route starts in Maltby, but the initial organised events started at various locations in the Tinsley area. The start then moved to the north of the borough, to a sports hall in Brampton Brielow for many years before it closed. The start then moved to DVC Sports, on the Dearne Valley College site, before finally moving to Manvers Waterfront Boat Club.

What began as a small club challenge — seven finishers in its first year — has grown into one of Yorkshire’s most respected long-distance events, attracting around 250 starters annually.

The route traces field paths, woodland tracks, canal towpaths, and quiet lanes through the South Yorkshire countryside, taking in Grange Park, Treeton, Harthill, Woodsetts, Firbeck, Maltby, and Hooton Roberts before returning to the Manvers Waterfront Boat Club.

Milestones

Course Records

Note: Carolyn Hunter-Rowe pro-rata time of around 6 hours and 50 minutes due to distance increase by ~2 miles.

All-time Winners

Overall men’s and women’s winner for each edition.

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